UK: Muslim man jailed for ‘systematic’ sexual abuse of young girl

A 33-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for two years for the “systematic” sexual abuse of a young girl over a period of ten months.

Mohammed Waqar, of Devonshire Street, Keighley, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court in October of eight offences, including seven allegations of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of causing his victim to watch a sexual act.

During the trial, the jury heard that Waqar, a married man with three children, pulled down the girl’s trousers and touched her indecently.

He also showed her pornography on his phone and kissed her on the lips.

The police were alerted when she told her mother in September last year.

Waqar’s barrister, Jeremy Hill Baker, handed in references from family members and employers speaking highly of his client and saying his behaviour was out of character.

The court heard that Waqar continued to deny his guilt, telling his probation officer he was innocent.

Mr Hill Baker said Waqar’s wife was very supportive of him and his relatives were shocked and upset.

He urged the court to consider the possibility of suspending the inevitable custodial sentence.

But the trial judge, Recorder Rachael Harrison, said Waqar had deliberately isolated the girl in order to sexually assault her.